CAMPAIGNERS are celebrating plans for a housing estate at Mistley Place Park being scrapped.

But concerned villagers have vowed to continue to fight to protect the site from future housing bids.

Montague Asset Management put in plans to build 78 homes and spruce up 15 acres of the animal rescue and petting zoo in New Road, Mistley, to create a community park.

Now, the company has announced it has withdrawn the plans to enable further public consultation to take place.

A spokesman for campaign group, Mistley Place Park Conservation Group, said: "The news of Montague Asset Management withdrawing its planning application has come as a temporary relief.

"However, although they promised to walk away from the project if the community were not supportive, so far there are no signs of them doing so, with a modified planning application expected in the near future.

"The strength of local opposition to the plans has inspired a number of residents of Mistley and Manningtree to come together and form the Mistley Place Park Conservation Group.

"The group aims to safeguard Mistley Place Park against unwelcome residential development and support the other options for securing the future of Mistley Place Park as public open space."

She added: "Contrary to some beliefs, residential development is not the only option for securing the future of Mistley Place Park as public open space.

"A government grant had previously been awarded to assess the feasibility of the site being purchased for the community, but this initiative was stopped in its tracks when Montague secured its option to purchase the park subject to planning permission being granted.

"As well as opposing any development, Manningtree Town Council and Mistley Parish Council have recently indicated that they would like to purchase the park for the local community.

"While they retain an option to buy the park, Montague stands firmly in the way of the community realising an ideal vision for the future of Mistley Place Park - one without a backdrop of a housing estate."

Montague Asset Management ha said it will be setting up workshops to look at alternatives projects for the site.